Jan Marini

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The recent discovery that microbeads (those tiny plastic beads found in many face and body scrubs) are polluting the Great Lakes has caused us to seriously rethink the gentle exfoliant. Apparently, these seemingly innocent, face-softening little beads are leaving a rather large, not-so-clean mark on our environment. They absorb toxins in the water, posing a threat to the fish that swallow them and, in turn, the entire fish-eating population—eek. But fear not, there are a handful of brightening and smoothing exfoliants that are just as gentle, without those harmful polyethylene beads. Here, eleven skin-soothing scrubs, peels, and gommages to help you buff and brighten without the backlash.